Decorative beads and method for making decorative beads

ABSTRACT

Beads capable of stably executing bead embroidery having high quality by using a continuous form of beads which can accomplish automatic bead embroidery. The beads comprise a laminate film 1a formed by laminating films 2 and 3 having different thermal shrinkage ratios in a predetermined direction. The laminate film 1a is heat-treated and curled into a cylindrical shape to form a cylinder 1b, and cuts 4 are formed into the cylinder 1b at predetermined intervals so as to form the continuous member 1c of the beads 6.

This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 application of PCT/JP95/02188 filedOct. 25, 1995.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to decorative beads which are sewn to acloth or the like along with embroideries.

BACKGROUND ART

By the present applicant, a useful method and an apparatus forembroidering beads are already developed and disclosed in a patentpublication (Japanese Patent Application Publication No.5-321122).According to the published known art, by using a stringlike continuousmember comprising multiple numbers of cylindrical beads connected in theaxial direction, bead embroidery of high quality can be stablyperformed. The continuous member of beads used in the above mentionedart can be made in various forms by various kinds of method. It ispossible to obtain remarkable effects from the beads embroideringmethods of the published known art by applying any form of thecontinuous member of beads to the embroidering method.

However, the applicant intends to innovate the continuous member ofbeads applicable to the beads embroidering method and apparatusdisclosed in the above mentioned publication so as to furtherefficiently perform the method and apparatus of known art.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide beadscapable of stably executing bead embroidery having high quality by usinga continuous form of beads which can accomplish automatic beadembroidery.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides beadsthat comprise a laminate film formed by laminating films havingdifferent thermal shrinkage ratios in a predetermined direction, thelaminate film being heat-treated and curled into a cylindrical shape toform beads.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the beadsare formed in a shape of continuous member comprising a plurality ofcylindrical beads divided continuously in the axial direction by formingcuts into a cylinder in the radial direction with a portion of thecylinder left intact as a connecting section between successive beads.

The present invention further provides a method for producing acontinuous member of beads wherein a longitudinal laminate tape formedby laminating films having different thermal shrinkage ratios in thelateral direction of the tape is heat-treated and curled in the lateraldirection so as to form longitudinally continuous elongate cylinder andwherein cuts are formed into the cylinder at predetermined intervalswith a portion of the cylinder left intact as a connecting sectionbetween successive beads so as to form a continuous member comprising aplurality of cylindrical beads continuous in the axial direction.

The laminate film is constituted for example from a laminate tape formedby laminating films having different thermal shrinkage ratios in thelateral direction. When the laminate tape is heated, the tape is curledin the lateral direction due to the difference between the thermalshrinkage ratios of the films so that a cylinder is formed from thetape. After that, cuts are formed into the cylinder at predeterminedintervals so as to form a continuous member of the cylindrical beads.Even if the curled beads are further heated afterwards, the beads arenot uncurled to open, therefore the cylindrical shape is stablymaintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laminate tape for forming the beads inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cylinder formed by heating the tape ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a continuous member of beads made byforming cuts into the cylinder of FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laminate tape for forming the beads ofthe present invention. This laminate tape 1a is formed by laminating afirst film 2 and a second film 3 made from for example polyester andhaving different thermal shrinkage ratios in the lateral direction(arrow A) of the tape. The thermal shrinkage ratio of the first film 2is adjusted to be larger than that of the second film 3. Or the thermalexpansion ratio of the second film 3 is adjusted to be larger than thatof the first film 2. In either of cases, it is desirable that theshrinkage ratios of the films in the longitudinal direction (arrow B) ofthe tape be the same.

By heating the laminate tape 1a with the use of an electric heater orother appropriate heat treatment means, the tape is curled in thelateral direction, as shown in FIG. 2, due to the difference between thethermal shrinkage ratios of the films 2 and 3, so that a continuous formof an elongate cylinder 1b is obtained. When the shape of the cylinderis stabilized, the heat treatment is stopped to harden the cylinder.

After that, cuts 4 are formed by a cutter (not shown) at predeterminedintervals into the cylinder 1b with a connecting section 5 left intactbetween successive beads at a portion of cylinder in the radialdirection of each cut section. In that way, a continuous member 1c ofbeads comprising multiple numbers of beads 6 connected in the axialdirection is formed. The continuous member 1c of beads is set in anapparatus which is itself a known type of apparatus wherein each bead isautomatically separated and sewed to a cloth.

When executing bead embroidery, the laminate tape 1a of FIG. 1 is woundin a roll shape first. The tape roll is unwound and the tape is passedthrough a heating means so as to form the cylinder of FIG. 2. Afterthat, the cylinder is successively passed through a cutter means so asto form the continuous member 1c of beads of FIG. 3. The continuousmember 1c of beads is then successively set in a bead embroideryapparatus. In that way, a series of bead embroidering process can beautomated.

Note that although the laminate tape of the above mentioned embodimenthas a two-layer structure, it is possible to use a laminate structurehaving three layers or more in order to enhance the ornamental effect bythickening the beads or applying different colors to the layers. It isalso possible to use various type films such as heat expansive typefilms, heat contractive type films or combination of the films of bothtypes as the films of the laminate tape to form the cylinder by curlingthe laminate tape through heat-treatment.

As mentioned above, in accordance with the present invention, it becomespossible to easily form cylindrical beads with the use of simple meansand efficiently automate the bead embroidery process. Also, if heat isapplied again to the beads after formed, thermal stress functions tofurther curl the cylinder rather than uncurling and opening thecylindrical shape, thereby the cylindrical shape is stably maintained.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the industrial field of bead embroidery technology, beads can beeasily formed with the use of simple means and the embroidery processcan be efficiently automated as well as the bead shape can be stablymaintained which makes it possible to upgrade the quality of beadproducts.

I claim:
 1. A continuous strand of decorative beads in which a pluralityof beads are connected in series, each strand comprising:an axiallyelongated, generally cylindrical coil formed by laminating at least twolayers of films having different thermal shrinkage ratios in apredetermined direction and by applying heat treatment to curl said atleast two layers of films creating said cylindrical coil having acircumferential overlap portion, the plurality of beads being defined byseparated axial segments of said coil, said axial segments beingseparated after said heat treatment is applied to said films; and aconnection section connecting said axial segments of said axiallyelongated, generally cylindrical coil at a common short circumferentialportion of the coil to provide the continuous strand of beads; each ofsaid axial segments having a first length in an axial direction and saidconnection section having a second length in the axial direction beingsubstantially smaller than said first length.
 2. A method for producinga continuous strand of decorative beads, comprising the steps of:forminga laminate tape by laminating at least two layers of films havingdifferent thermal shrinkage ratios in a predetermined direction; heattreating to curl said laminate tape and to form an axially elongatecylinder having a circumferential overlap portion; forming a pluralityof lateral cuts into said elongate cylinder at predetermined intervalsto form a plurality of beads after said laminate tape is curled; andforming a corresponding plurality of connection sections at a commonshort circumferential portion of said axially elongate cylinderconstructing said continuous strand of beads, each bead connected to asuccessive bead by said connection section along said common shortcircumferential portion of said elongate cylinder; each of said beadshaving a first length in an axial direction of said axially elongatecoil and each of said plurality of cuts having a second length in theaxial direction, the second length being substantially smaller than saidfirst length.